Growing Sweet potato

Ipomoea batatas yam, kumara, sweetpotato
Other names
yam, kumara, sweetpotato
Botanical name
Ipomoea batatas
Family / Genus
Convolvulaceae / Ipomoea
Plant category
Root and tuber vegetables
Sweet potatoRadovan1/Shutterstock.com

The sweet potato originally comes from the tropical regions of Central America.
It has become a staple food in many parts of Africa and South America, especially for poorer communities.

It is only very distantly related to the potato. It belongs to the morning glory family.

Facts and figures

Light requirements
Sun
Nutrient requirements
Heavy feeder
Difficulty level
Intermediate
Culture (according to Gertrud Franck)
A - tall or wide crops, almost year-round
Culture (according to Sister C. Weinrich)
Main crop
Growing period
140 days
Row spacing
30 cm
Plant spacing
50 cm
Growth height
20 - 30 cm
Pre-growing period
50 days

Planting & harvest times of Sweet potato

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Pre-grow
Transplant
Harvest

Transplant to bed from Mid May to Early June. Pre-grow about 50 days before transplanting, approximately between Late March and Mid April. After a growing period of 140 days, harvest can begin around Early September and continues until Late October.

Plant Sweet potato

Growing from seed is tricky. The germination rate is poor and the development time is simply too long for our climate.
It's better to sprout the tubers first and then plant them outside after the last frost, or earlier if you have a greenhouse.
You can place the tubers in boxes with loose soil in a bright room, or put them halfway into a glass of water, like you would with avocado stones. They will reliably produce roots and shoots. When planting, the tuber should stick halfway out of the soil.

Location and soil

It needs a very warm, sunny spot with plenty of nutrients. In our climate, you're better off growing it in a greenhouse or raised bed. It also does well in large containers or window boxes on a sunny balcony or terrace. In milder areas, you can try growing it outdoors.

Good and bad companions of Sweet potato

Good neighbours

Predecessors and successors of Sweet potato

Good predecessors
Alfalfa
Berseem clover
Common vetch
Crimson clover
Hairy vetch
Lupin
Oats
Oil radish
Persian clover
Red clover
Sainfoin
Subterranean clover
White clover
Winter rye
Bad predecessors
Sweet potato
Good successors
Alfalfa
Berseem clover
Common vetch
Crimson clover
Hairy vetch
Persian clover
Phacelia
Red clover
Subterranean clover
White clover
Winter rye
Bad successors
Sweet potato

Harvest and processing

Radovan1/Shutterstock.com